So I finally got the Ember Mug. I've been eyeing it for years! I always talk myself out of getting one because, as we all probably know, it's on the pricier side.
But I can't handle the cold coffee anymore, ya'll. Ice cold coffee after five minutes is not the vibe. So I got the mug for Christmas and have been using it daily for about a month. It's time for the review. As always, I'm here to keep it real. Is this mug worth it?
what is the ember mug?
The Ember Mug is essentially a smart mug that keeps beverages hot for an extended period of time. Additionally, you can carry the mug around your home and it stays hot without needing a heating pad or something similar.
details.
Disclaimer: This review is strictly on the Ember Mug 2.
The Ember Mug is a smart mug that can keep beverages hot without needing a heating pad. However, there is a charging pad that it needs to be placed on in order to charge it. One full charge allows the mug to heat beverages on its own for 90 minutes. If you want your beverage to stay hot for longer than 90 minutes, you can keep the mug on the charging mat for as long as you want.
The mug is equipped with an app (free) that you can download in your app store (iOS and Android). This app pairs to the mug and allows you to adjust the mug's temperature, save temperature settings, customize the color of the indicator light on the mug, and receive notifications when your beverage has reached your ideal temperature. Figuring out your favorite temperature of beverage will be based on experimentation but there are suggestions in the app!
Though this app is available for use, you do not need to use it. The mug can work on its own.
The indicator light on the mug ranges from showing a low battery, full battery, charging, working on reaching your ideal temperature, and the mug at your ideal temperature. I customized my light to show orange when it's at my ideal temperature (which is 136 degrees if you're interested).
The mug is not dishwasher or microwave safe. The charging mat must never get wet so you must completely dry the mug before placing it back on the mat.
You can choose from black, white, gray, copper, rose gold, and gold options for mug color. I chose white.
Prices range from $99.95 to $129.95 based on capacity and color.
Here's the link to purchase. FYI this review is not sponsored nor was the mug gifted! I received this as a Christmas gift from my husband. The link is an affiliate link and is at no cost to you.
pros.
It works: Simply put, this mug does what it needs to do. I have not experienced a cold cup of coffee since receiving this! Hallelujah! I set the app to my ideal temperature, the mug does its job, and sends a notification to my phone letting me know all is set.
Sleek design: I love the minimalist design. It's a smart device that doesn't look clunky, awkward, or too tech-forward. I have it displayed right on my coffee bar.
Straightforward instructions: App or not, I was able to use this right out of the box with ease. It is very simple to use which makes this a smart device with no setup hassles!
cons.
App is wonky: So the app is very strange. At least for Android. While it paired easily the first time and adjusting the temperature is simple, I can't update this mug for the life of me. It refuses to complete the update, stating that the mug keeps disconnecting, even though the mug is still connected. Also, the saved temperature option doesn't seem to work for me. Luckily, the mug still works despite this and the important features (setting temperature, notifications) work so it's not a major issue for me.
Water on charging mat: Though I've never messed up, I think it's fair to share this as a con. The charging mat will be completely destroyed if you get liquid on it. Meaning you can't slip up and spill or wash the mug and accidentally leave a drop of water on the bottom. This will destroy the mat and you can't ever charge the mug again (unless you find the mat being sold separately online).
Length of standalone use: This is not a personal con but I also think is fair to share. For $100+, is 90 minutes of standalone use worth it? For me, it is worth it. For super slow sippers, it might be a waste of money if you're going to keep it on the charging pad anyway.
so, is it worth it?
For someone who needs their beverages hot/warm and moves around with their cup, this is worth it for you. I move from the kitchen to living room to office with this mug and it's a dream to not take a cold sip. However, if you sit in the same spot for the duration of drinking your beverage, you might be better off with a heating pad instead. It's way cheaper, you can use any mug you want, and it's going to be the same experience since you have to do that with this mug after 90 minutes.
Also, just throwing this out there: Yeti Mugs...
So, are you going to give the Ember Mug a try? Let me know in the comments!
If you have any questions, feel free to send a message on my Instagram.
Here's the link to purchase. FYI this review is not sponsored nor was the mug gifted!
Happy New Year! How many times have you heard/read that so far? Well, I hope you had a lovely first full week of 2022. December allowed me a lot of down time once we got closer to the holidays. I had about a week completely off and I spent it reflecting on 2021, planning for 2022, and prioritizing rest where I'd usually be cramming in work. I think my favorite part of those days off were the mornings. I really took it slow. I didn't look at the clock. Instead, I let life happen. That's something I want more of in 2022 and years to come.
Now we're in January and talk of the town are goals! Goals, goals, goals. What are we working on, friends? What are we NOT working on? Of course, that's another story for another blog post lol. But feel free to share your goals with me on Instagram! I'd love to cheer you on.
skincare.
the creme shop eye patches | Eye patches are sometimes superficial for me - I don't feel or notice any difference after using them. But there was a noticeable difference with these! I could feel a lot of firmness. I used it at night but next time I'll try it in the morning for a pick me up.
food.
style.
other things.
Are blog recaps still a thing? Is it just for social media now? Either way, I've decided to keep this tradition on my blog. Many years ago, when I spent lots of online time searching for blogs to follow, I found a blog that shared weekly photo diary posts. I loved seeing that person's moments of significance through weekly snapshots. I suppose Instagram is a now a rendition of this! But those posts were a huge influence for me creating this blog so it holds dear to my heart. Anyway, that's my long explanation for this yearly photo diary/recap! I hope you enjoy the slightly new format.
November started off great because I spent the first weekend of it in the Catskill Mountains, living my best life in a tiny cabin in the woods. I hope you've been enjoying my captures on social media. The rest of the month went well, too. I made a vegan holiday feast, decorated for Christmas, and prioritized cozy moments whenever possible. I also made the hard decision to let go of my original Instagram account. That day was full of uncertainty and emotions. But at least 300 of you came through to the new account and I promise that every single person made me feel supported that day. I hope to see more of you cozy pals on the new account.
Now, here we are at the final month of 2021. I wish I weren't always so shocked, but end of year really does surprise me. I'm not going to start any heavy reflections on a monthly favorites post LOL but wow, what a year. We're not at the end just yet. December calls for all the festivities and plenty of deserved time off. I can't wait to celebrate Christmas in the house for the very first time. The decorations in here are already so cozy and inviting! I plan to savor every small moment. Bring out the eggnog, put the needle on the record, light the Christmas tree. It's time to invite December with open arms.
home.
silicone baking sheet liners | I never thought this would change my life but it sure did. I use these liners every single week, multiple times a week. I don't need to go through rolls of foil or parchment paper anymore! These liners are non-stick, easy to clean, and so dang useful.
wooden serving bowls | I was on the search for timeless serving pieces and then I came across the wooden bowls at World Market. They have such a beautiful uniqueness to them. From the design to shape, I don't plan on getting rid of these bowls for a long time, if ever.
food.
style.
other things.
I don't know if you know this about me but I love a good gift guide. Partly because, yay, someone did the work for me! I don't need to mindlessly search on my own! But also, I love anything carefully curated. I believe any guide, not just the gift kind, should have a level of thought and charm to it. That extra thought encourages me to shop directly from the guide. I actually use gift guides year-round for celebrations, events, etc. (feel free to steal that idea).
With that being said, my holiday gift guide is surely curated. Each item mentioned below is something I personally use, love, and stand by. I wouldn't recommend anything but the best! If you're a frequent reader of this blog you might even spot repeats from my monthly favorites posts because they are genuine pieces I love and find to be worthy for gift giving.
The list below will be in order from most expensive to least. Numbers on the graphic will refer to the applicable item description. You can click on the item name to access the link. Some links are affiliate and are at no cost to you! It just means that I will make a small commission from those links you use. Happy Holiday Shopping!
myx fitness bike (from $1,399, with $600 in savings at time of writing this post!)
Not only is this indoor fitness bike functional, but it's pretty! It does not come off as an eye sore even while living in my bedroom. Speaking of functional, the (huge) screen has tons of classes based on difficulty, soundtrack, and trainer. The fitness tracking is a fantastic plus. The quality and results are here at a fraction of the cost of the more popular indoor bike brand.
patagonia frozen range jacket ($600, on sale for $418.99 at time of writing this post!)
This jacket comes at a high price but I don't think I'll ever need to buy another in my lifetime. Or at least for many years. This winter coat can withstand some serious cold temperatures and wind. My favorite part about it are the pockets and features sewn in to make sure my hands(!) and head stay super warm. I will note that the insulation is from down but it is 100% recycled down.
google pixel 6 pro (from $599 or $24.96/mo for 24 months)
I've only had this phone for a month but it's already such an important companion in my life. Lol that sounds dramatic but I rely on my phone for just about everything, so I need a phone that can keep up with me. This one surely does the job. And if you need the highest end of phone camera quality, it's in this phone. I have used every model (except the A series) of Google Pixel phones and they are top notch.
always pan ($145, on sale for $99 at time of writing this post!)
I am absolutely serious when I say this is the only pan I own. It's the only pan I use. So yes, literally my always pan. I think enough said, right? It's beautiful, it's functional, it has not let me down after a year of heavy use. At first I thought the price tag was extreme, but for the amount of things you can use this pan for, it's almost a steal (especially with their current sale happening!). The color I have is Steam.
eufy vacuum ($140, on sale for $70 at time of writing this post!)
If the sale on this isn't enticing enough, let me tell you how this vacuum has helped me. I have a cat and fluffy rabbit. I can't live among them unless I vacuum at least once a week. And now with living in a larger space... you know how long and painful it would be to vacuum that much that often?! My baby wrists cannot handle a standard vacuum! In comes the robot vacuums, like this one, that does this laborious task all on its own. I think it's one of the best modern tech inventions.
compost bin ($64.90)
For the Earth conscious people in your life... or honestly anyone because we should all be Earth conscious people! Not a single bit of compostable scraps go to waste in this house. My compost bin sees more action than my garbage bins at this point! This one is big enough to last a long time (I've been filling it up for 6 months and there's still space) but also small enough to live on an apartment balcony. It'll be especially helpful for people who need to commute to compost sites.
soil & clay ($4.50-$89)
I would first acknowledge that you should support local nurseries and buy plants from there if you have the option. But! If you don't have the option, say you live in a big city, this brand is a fantastic place to shop from! They have a large variety of plants with a large variety of price points. The website also gives great details about care, maintenance, etc. Lastly, they package and ship plants with so much care.
takeya water bottle ($35)
Give the gift of an emotional support water bottle. Trust me, we all need one. This bottle goes everywhere I go and I love it so much. It keeps my water cold for at least 9 hours (that's the longest I've gone without drinking from it). It also keeps water hot for the same amount of time! I love the size, too. A 40 oz. is good to last you at least a half day. With the sleek white design exterior (that's the color I got), it's pretty sitting wherever you sit, too.
aesthetic wireless clicky keyboard ($34, 10% off at time of writing this post!)
I can't resist an aesthetically pleasing office item. For someone who works remotely or just has their own office space, why not give a gift of something pretty and functional? I love that this keyboard is super clicky and ASMR-worthy without looking like a wired gaming keyboard. It's wireless, so no clutter. It has its own color palette, so no rainbow lights. I think that allows for the owner to show their personality! As my friends say, this keyboard screams me lol.
macrame fuit hammock ($30)
I've had my eye on this hammock for so long and now that I have one I can say it's so cute! It gives so much charm to the kitchen space. I love that it beautifully displays fruits and veggies without taking up counter space. Making use of under cabinets is such a clever idea! The installation also took minutes. So simple and yet has become one of my favorite spots in the kitchen.
hunt a killer interactive games ($30)
A friend gifted me this on Halloween and we had such a blast playing it. If you've got a true crime junkie in your life, do them a favor and get them this game. I was fully immersed in this murder that needed to be solved and the evidence pieces we needed to put together to reach the end of the story. Let me tell you, this game had a bunch of adults scouring over details and notes and theories for hours. So fun!
framed art ($15, prints on sale at time of writing this post!)
Something like framed art is so meaningful as a gift. It shows you thought of an art style that vibes with the person! It might even have a subject that the person loves. What takes it to another level is framing it yourself before gifting. That little extra effort makes it even more special and thoughtful. My small art prints look great in a frame and I think bundling the pieces can kickstart a potential gallery wall!
reusable produce bags ($12.97, 5% off at time of writing this post!)
I've had these produce bags for years and they have yet to wear down, even after heavy use. I buy lots of fruits and vegetables. I usually buy pounds of potatoes at a time, too! These bags are always at hand when I'm doing groceries. And because of their mesh material, they don't get soiled with wet or dirty produce. If they get a little messy, they're easy to rinse and clean.
gift card from bookshop.org (starting at $10)
Once more for the people in the back: Do not buy your books from Amazon!!! And maybe stay away from large corporations, too. It is monumental for books to be purchased locally and from small shops. But I have been privileged to live in areas where small bookstores are plentiful. Bookshop.org is your next best option. This online bookstore gives a percentage of their sales directly to small bookstores. Their focus is to financially support indie bookstores. And it's just as easy to shop through as Amazon.
bujo kit from muji ($0.50-$11.90)
This time of year is where a lot of people are preparing to add productivity habits into their life. Help them out with a bullet journal kit from muji! Muji does not sell bullet journal kits, but they do sell extremely affordable and high-quality stationary. You can pile your cart with all the essentials and have a kit assembled for less than $30. I personally do this right before a new year!
I'll end this year's gift guide by emphasizing that small, independent stores are heavily reliant on holiday sales. Sometimes these sales make up for most of their year's revenue! So while some of the above items that I personally love are from large companies, I'd like to also encourage checking out local gift shops in your town, small shops on Etsy, or even DIYing some holidays gifts this year. Every little bit counts! Your clicks, support in my Etsy shop, and likes are also monumental to me as a creator. Thank you so much for reading! Happy holidays and happy shopping!
photo credits: shape magazine (myx); patagonia (jacket); amazon (pixel; compost bin; keyboard; game); cnet (always pan); good housekeeping (eufy); soil & clay; target (water bottle); macraYAYmacrame (hammock); bookshop.org; muji
I'm sad to say goodbye to October, but alas, here we are in November. No hate to November! I will just miss having everyone collectively enjoy Halloween for an entire month. Now, I must go back to celebrating it on my own for the rest of the year lmao. Kidding. Sort of. I mentioned my October details last month as well as in the email newsletter (be sure to sign up on the sidebar!) so I won't bore you with redundancy. Let's look at what's to come in November.
For me, November is the start of good food and holidays. There's nothing quite as delicious as holiday food! I'm excited for all the new products to try, all the new recipes to experiment with, all of it! I will also miss some traditional foods that I used to have when I wasn't vegan, like Pepper Pot, a classic Guyanese Christmas dish. But perhaps this is the year I try to veganize some Guyanese holiday meals... it won't be easy. But it will be fun! I'm also looking forward to our first Christmas in the new house. Christmases in apartments are cozy and cute but there's nothing like a home decked out in holiday decor and a BIG tree. Our trees have been so tiny for years. I miss the huge 8-foot tree like my mom has. I can't wait to have one for myself starting this year. Anyway, let's backtrack a little bit to share what I discovered in October. And don't you worry, gift lovers, a Holiday Gift Guide will be up on the blog in the upcoming weeks!
home.
brown aesthetic clicky keyboard | This keyboard is aesthetic perfection. From the brown color palette to the clicky clacky delight, you need this keyboard. It's wireless, seems easy to clean, and beautiful.
acrylic laptop stand | Most laptop stands are way too mechanic-looking. I don't want to feel like I'm in a traditional office anymore. If you're looking for a sleek and pretty laptop stand, this is the way to go. Also helps with posture!!
food.
other things.
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